Barbara Helen (Dowd) Donovan, 84, of New Bedford died Thursday August 20, 2015 at Hathaway Manor surrounded by her family after a long illness. She was the wife of Richard S. Donovan.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Joseph and Annie (Gregory) Dowd, she lived in New Bedford all of her life.
She was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.
Mrs. Donovan was formerly employed as a legal secretary for Attorney Thomas Sullivan, and later for the Law Office of Sullivan, Williams, and Quintin until her retirement.
She was a graduate of Holy Family High School.
An avid golfer, she was a member of the Whaling City Golf Course. She enjoyed knitting.
She is survived by her husband, Richard; five children, Stephen Donovan and his wife Susan of Hopkington, James Donovan and his wife Debra of New Bedford, Kathleen Mello of Fall River, Daniel Donovan and his wife Eleanor of East Freetown, and Margaret "Peg" Donovan of Somerset; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Mello, Matthew Donovan, Kathryn Mello, Lynn Souza, Ryan Donovan, Kimberly Donovan, Nathan Donovan, and Evan Donovan; and three great-grandchildren, Charlotte Donovan, Emma Souza, and Ava Hatchett.
She was the sister of the late Helen Sullivan.
Her Funeral will be held on Tuesday at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 10 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hathaway Manor, 863 Hathaway Rd., New Bedford, MA 02740 or the Azheimer's Associatiion, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. For directions and guestbook, please visit www,saundersdwyer.com.